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By Shristi Kafle
Nepal has seen many revolutions and protests in the past decades, most of them occurred to change the ruling or political system. However, September 8, 2025 was not the same one.
The day was simply designed for a peaceful protest of youths who were demanding an end to corruption and poor governance, nepotism and against suspension of social media apps.
Thousands of youths gathered on streets, in Kathmandu and other major cities, and chanted slogans against the rampant corruption and misutilization of tax-payers money. Most of them were dressed in school and college uniforms, carrying books and notebooks in bags, and raising their voices loud along with classmates and other fellow teenagers and friends, while singing national songs and dancing.
But it quickly turned into clash and then violence, taking the lives of 17 youths alone in New Baneswor, Kathmandu – where the Parliament is located – after the gunshots of security personnel. The protest ground turned into a massacre area with innocent lives taken, shattering the youth's dreams and spirit. Hundreds of youths were injured, many of them still in critical condition in hospitals, while other two young lives were taken in an eastern city Itahari.
Many in Nepal came together with a unified voice following this tragic incident, terming the day as the Black Day in the history of the Himalayan country.
And the result is visible within around 24 hours of the protest – toppling of the government led by communist leader KP Sharma Oli and change in the entire regime.
Change in Regime
Tuesday changed the entire political scene of Nepal as the youths, joined also by the agitated general public, started protests since early morning. This continued for whole day even after the Nepal PM announced his resignation. Few other ministers and Members of Parliament had stepped down from the post before Oli’s resignation following immense public pressure. The resignation leaves Nepal’s ruling coalition UML and Nepali Congress in disarray, with no clear successor in sight.
Nepal Parliament building, the major administrative hub Singhadurbar, and several government offices and residences of the major political leaders were set on fire. Many leaders including the former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and his wife current Foreign Minister Arzoo Rana Deuba were brutally beaten by the protestors.
All ministers and senior leaders of major parties were evacuated by helicopter from the ministers’ quarters and their private residence by the security personnel.
Police units from across the valley were unable to control the crowd, surrendering in many places. Violent protests have still continued across the country in all the major cities with vandalism and burning of government structures.
Nepal's main international airport Tribhuvan International Airport has shut down, while all airlines bound for Nepal have been diverted. News and photos are being circulated in all social media platforms regarding the possibility of fleeing of top leaders to other countries, as in Bangladesh.
Few more deaths were reported in social media during protests today, but with no formal confirmation.
What Next?
It is learnt that the President Ram Chandra Paudel is also set to tender his resignation any time soon. With this, the country is almost in a vacuum state.
The Chief Secretary and heads of Nepal’s security agencies issued a public appeal urging citizens to exercise restraint.
They issued a joint statement under the names of Eknarayan Aryal, Chief Secretary of the Government of Nepal; Ashok Raj Sigdel, Chief of Army Staff; Gokarnmani Duwaadi, Home Secretary; Raju Aryal, Inspector General of the Armed Police Force; Chandra Kuver Khapung, Inspector General of Nepal Police; and Hutaraj Thapa, Chief Investigation Director of the National Investigation Department.
The statement urged citizens to maintain calm to prevent further casualties and property damage and called on all stakeholders to resolve the situation through peaceful political dialogue.
Now, the path has been cleared for the formation of a new national unity caretaker government which can call early elections. For this, there is a need for the current Parliament dissolution. The general public is of the view that the Gen Z voices and concerns should be represented well in the new government under the leadership of someone with high integrity and has a good image.
Many have looked towards Balen Shah for this role, who is the Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City. Questions over what kind of government will take charge in Kathmandu now have loomed across the country, and region.
(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)